Lighting fixture



L. C. DOANE LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 10, 1932 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 000;; 2, 1035. L. c. DOANE 2,007,040

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 10, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ZERor CfloA/v' ATTORNEY Patented July 2, 1935 2,007,040 i LIGHTING FIXTURE Leroy C. Doane, Meriden, Conn, assignor to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 10, 1932, Serial No. 646,645

11 Claims. (01. 240-78).

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures and is more particularly directed toward a construction for lighting fixtures adapted for use either as direct fixtures, or semi-indirect fixtures.

5 The present invention contemplates a form of fixture construction adaptable for use either as a ceiling fixture when mounted near the ceiling or as a pendant fixture when mounted at the usual distance below the ceiling. These fixtures 1 0, may employ a number of light sources under which are placed a diffusing glass plate, the plate and light sources being arranged so as to form a compact unit of small vertical dimension.

The present invention also contemplates an ar- 1 rangement for lighting fixture construction wherein the fixtiue is made up out of pre-assembled units adapted to be mechanically connected together and to have an arrangement of wiring so that one can complete the wiring of the fix- 20 time without the use of tools.

4 y A further object of the invention is to provide a form of fixture construction in which fixtures of the direct, or semi-indirect type may be assembed from many of the same parts.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, several embodiments in which the invention may take form, 30 it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a suspended lighting fixture with parts in section and showing 353 in dot and dash lines the position of certain parts when moved to be adjacent the ceiling;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of fixture;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view with parts in elevation 45 of a further modified form of construction;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through a fixture of the type shown in Fig. 5, arranged for indirect lighting;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the fixture shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View of a modified construction employing a single light source.

A conventional hickey is indicated at H) in Fig. 1. It is connected to a nipple ll which supports a special fitting i2. This fitting has concentric insulated terminals [3 and 14, the outer one being in the form, of a threaded stud. These parts'are held in place in the housing member 12 and connected with the supply wires in a well 5 known manner. The parts l3 and I4 are,'therefore, connected into. the supply wiring and are available to furnish current to any cooperative element "connected to them.

In Fig. 1 such an elementis, shown in the form of a long pendant standard .or tube 15. It is provided with the self-wiring connections as usual. The lower end of the coupling member or tube l5 has a threaded stud indicated in dotted lines at 13, and a concentric contact 14 similar 15 to that carried by the fitting {2. Either the fitting or the lower endof the extension tube l5, may be employed for supporting the other parts of the fixture by means 01 a coupling member indicated at It and shown in detail in my Patent No. 1,930,927, granted October 17, 1933. This coupling member haspin terminals 26 and 21 Referring againzto Fig. 1, it will be seen that the fixturebody is in the form. of an annular stamping 40. This-stamping forms a pan or trough and has anm'wardly drawn ring-likeelement 4| adapted to receive the threaded stud l3 or l3. 'Owing'to the configuration of the parts, it will be obvious that the metal of the pan or trough-forming member cannot come in contact with the stud. The pan is supported in place, as 'will be obvious by threading the part 16 1 on the studm The pan or trough-forming member 40 carries a number of depending straps indicated at 42 to which are secured lamp sockets 43 toicarry lamp bulbs44. These lamp sockets are connected together by wires indicated at 45 and and the. .wires are provided with receptacles 41 adapted to be received by the pins 26 and 21' so that the lamp sockets may be readily 40 wired in without the use of tools. The depending portion 48 of the cover member 40 extends down to practically the same elevation as the upper edge of the glass diffuser.

Three straps .50 are secured to the pan 40 in 45 any suitable manner and project outwardly, as indicated at. 51. ;These straps are adapted to supportclips 52;. Two of the clips may bepermanently secured to theastraps while the other clip is removably carried, asindicated in Fig, 3. last mentionedclip has aligned lugs 53 and is held in place by a thumb screw 54.

A difiuser ,5 5,. preferably in the form of a slightly dished glass plate, is held in place in the clips 52. The upper edge 55 of this difiuser is at 55 rib substantially the same elevation as the lower edge of the pan 40, and as the glass slopes downwardly, it will be apparent that the glass is spaced a short distance below the edge of the pan. This will permit a small amount of light to be difiusely reflected outwardly and upwardly by the marginal portions of the glass.

The central part of the diffuser is of sumciently low elevation to clear the coupling mem her It. When it is desired to mount the fixture adjacent the ceiling, the tube l5 and canopy and canopy supporting ring are not employed. The fixture body is passed up near the ceiling and the coupling member I6 threaded directly on to the stud carried by the fitting l2.

In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 4, the pan or trough-forming member 40a is rectangular instead of round and the plate 55a is also shown as rectangular. Other shapes of trough-forming elements could be employed.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the pendant stem is indicated at 60. A sleeve 6| is secured at the lower end of the stem 60. This sleeve is internally threaded as indicated at 62 to receive a fitting 63 having receptacle contacts, one of which is shown at 64.

The sleeve 6| is externally threaded as indicated at 65. A body member 66 is adapted to be threaded on to this sleeve as shown. This body member is provided with three spokes or radially extending members 61 which may be made out of round bar stock. They are tapped at the ends to receive screws 68, these screws being employed to secure extensions 69 to the radial members. These extensions may be made of sheet metal strap, carry clips 10 and are similar to the outer ends of the straps 50, shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The body member 66 carries three curved straps I2, each adapted to support the lamp socket 13. These sockets are connected to wiring having pin terminals 13 and are adapted to support lamp bulb 14 as indicated.

In the form shown in Fig. 5 a sheet metal refiecting member 15 is supported on the body or ring 66, preferably by being pressed down into a recess in the ring as shown. The outer edge .16 of the reflector l5 fits about the upper edge 11 of a diffusing band 18. This difiusing band is supported on the extensions 65 and is centered by means of the offsets indicated at 19.

With the construction shown in Fig. 5, a small amount of light is emitted in horizontal directions through the annular band 18 and is diffused upwardly and downwardly as will be obvious. The reflector 15, however, intercepts nearly all the upwardly directed light and reflects it back down on to the lower difiuser II. This form of construction is well suited for mounting close to the ceiling as indicated in the dotted line position of the fixture of Fig. 1, although it may be generally used where a small amount of upwardly directed light is sufficient.

Where one desires to utilize a large amount of the light flux as indirect light in the ceiling, the fixture is assembled without the reflecting cover 15 as shown in Fig. 6. In this case the fixture is open at the top and the upwardly directed light goes directly to the ceiling.

Owing to the employment of the diffusing band 18 in the fixtures of Figs. 5 and 6, there is not assharp a cut on of light as is the case in fixtures employing the all metal cover shown in Fig. l.

It will be noted that all the forms of fixtures shown have, at the lower ends of the stem, a pair of easily accessible contacts which may be readily wired in at the factory. The lamp sockets may also be connected to wiring provided with pins or receptacles adapted to cooperate with the complementary parts carried by the stem. The mechanical assembly of the fixture is easily accomplished and the electrical assembly may be completed by simple plugging operations. Where the fixture is constructed with conventional wiring (instead of the pin and receptacle arrangement) the lamp sockets may be wired to separate switches for individual control.

The construction shown in Fig. 8 has the same arrangement of glass as that shown in Fig. 6. It, however, employs a single centrally located light source 80 carried from a lamp socket enclosed in the socket cover 8|, as usual. This socket cover carries a number of thin straps 82 which have outer extensions 83 similar to the outer ends of straps 19. These straps support clips 84 similar to the clips 79 and are secured to a ring 85 which properly spaces them. The glass band 18 and difiusing glass dish ll, are supported from the straps 82 and clips 84 as previously described. This form of luminair provides for diffusing illumination downwardly and upwardly for a considerable angle above the horizontal so as to eflective- 1y out ofi direct light in horizontal directions and reduce shadows.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, and I wish it to be understood that the particular forms shown are but a few of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A pendant lighting fixture having a supporting stem, a plurality of radially extending members supported by the stem and substantially in the plane of the lower end of the stem, clips secured to the ends of the members and having inwardly extending lower portions, at least one of the clips being detachable, a plurality of lamp sockets supported from the lower end of the stem, a shallow, dished glass diffuser carried by the clips, lamp bulbs in the sockets, the light centers of the bulbs being slightly above the level of the upper edge of the difiuser so that substantially all the downwardly emitted direct light is intercepted by the diffuser, and an annular cover for the lamp bulbs, the cover extending outwardly from the stem beyond the lamp bulbs and then downwardly below the light centers to intercept light emitted above the difiuser.

2. A pendant lighting fixture having a supporting stem, a plurality of radially extending members supported by the stem and substantially in the plane of the lower end of the stem, clips secure-d to the ends of the members and having inwardly extending lower portions, at least one of the clips being detachable, a plurality of lamp sockets supported from the lower end of the stem, a shallow, dished glass diffuser carried by the clips, lamp bulbs in the sockets, the light centers of the bulbs being slightly above the level of the upper edge of the difiuser so that substantially all the downwardly emitted direct light is intercepted by the difiuser, and an annular cover for the lamp bulbs, the cover having a reflecting portion extending outwardly from the stem beyond the lamp bulbs for reflecting light downwardly, and a peripheral depending portion which diffuses the light emitted at low angles above the diffuser.

3. A pendant lighting fixture having a supporting stem, a plurality of radially extending members supported by the stem and substantially in the plane of the lower end of the stem, clips secured to the ends of the members and having inwardly extending lower portions, at least one of the clips being detachable, a plurality of lamp sockets supported from the lower end of the stem, a shallow dished glass diffuser carried by the clips, lamp bulbs in the sockets, the light centers of the bulbs being slightly above the level of the upper edge of the diffuser so that substantially all the downwardly emitted direct light is intercepted by the diffuser, and an annular diffusing band of smaller diameter than the lower diffuser and extending upwardly from the clip supporting members outside the lamp bulbs, the band intercepting and diffusing the light emitted at low angles above the horizontal, and screening the lamp bulbs.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a pendant supporting stem carrying the usual current supply wires, a plurality of substantially horizontal lamp sockets adapted to carry lamp bulbs spaced about the lower end of the stem, a downwardly dished diffusing plate carried just below the stem and bulbs and extending outwardly beyond the lamp bulbs, stem-supported means for detachably supporting the sockets and diffusing plate, the fixture being further provided with an annular cover for the lamp bulbs, the cover having a reflecting portion extending outwardly from the stem beyond the lamp bulbs for reflecting light downwardly, and a peripheral depending portion which diffuses the light emitted at low angles above the diffuser.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a pendant stem, a body member detachably carried at the lower end of the stem, a plurality of radially extending members carried by the body member, downwardly and inwardly extending clips detachably carried by the radially extending members, a shallow downwardly dished glass diffuser supported in the clips, a plurality of socket supporting straps secured to the body member, sockets carried by the straps and adapted to carry lamp bulbs adjacent the diffuser and at a slight elevation above the upper outer edge of the diffuser so that substantially all the downwardly emitted light is intercepted by the diffuser, and a diffusing ring supported by the radially extending members to diffusely transmit light emitted immediately above the lower diffuser.

6. A lighting fixture comprising a pendant stem, a body member detachably carried at the lower end of the stem, a plurality of radially extending members carried by the body member, downwardly and inwardly extending clips detachably carried by the radially extending members, a shallow downwardly dished glass diffuser supported in the clips, a plurality of socket supporting straps secured tothe body member, sockets carried by the straps and adapted to carry lamp bulbs adjacent the diffuser and at a slight elevation above the upper outer edge of the diffuser so that substantially all the downwardly emitted light is intercepted by the diffuser, an annular sheet metal reflector carried by the body member and extending outwardly above the lamp bulbs and sockets, and a diffusing ring below the outer edge of the reflector and the diffuser.

'7. A direct lighting fixture comprising a plurality of lamp bulbs arranged at substantially the same elevation and disposed about a vertical axis, a lamp bulb receiving member having the horizontal cross section of a closedflgure and provided with a reflecting wall above the lamp bulbs and a dependent skirt outside the lamp bulbs, and a diffusing plate spaced below the lamp bulb receiving member and detachably supported therefrom, the plate being close to the bulb receiving member and larger than said member so as to cut off all direct light and to upwardly reflect a small portion of light at its margin for upward illumination.

8. A lighting fixture comprising an inverted pan having depending peripheral edges, and closed at the top except for a central aperture, a threaded support extending downwardly through the aperture, a member threaded into the support for holding the pan in place, a plurality of horizontally disposed lamp sockets secured to the pan, lamp bulbs carried in the sockets, the bulbs being close to the top of the pan, the depth of the edges being substantially equal to the size of the lamp bulbs, and a diffuser detachably secured closely adjacent the pan and of larger size than the pan to intercept and diffuse light downwardly.

9. A lighting fixture comprising an inverted sheet metal pan having depending peripheral edges, and closed at the top except for a central aperture, a threaded support extending downwardly through the aperture, a member threaded into the support for holding the pan in place, a plurality of horizontally disposed lamp sockets secured to the pan, lamp bulbs carried in the sockets, the bulbs being close to the top of the pan, the depth of the edges being substantially equal to the size of the lamp bulbs, a plurality of straps carried by the pan and extending outwardly from its lower edge, downwardly and inwardly extending diffuser supports carried by the outer ends of the straps, and a glass diffuser carried by said diffuser supports.

10. A direct lighting fixture having a pendant threaded support through which current supply conections extend, the support having a downwardly facing shoulder above the threads, an inverted pan-like member apertured to receive the support, a detachably threaded member for securing the pan-like member against the shoulder, a plurality of lamp sockets secured to the panlike member and adapted to carry lamp bulbs within the pan-like member, a diffuser underneath the pan-like member for intercepting and diffusely transmitting the light, and means for supporting the diffuser from the pan-like member.

11. In a lighting fixture, an inverted opaque trough-forming member, a plurality of lamp bulbs within the trough-forming member, and a diffuser spaced slightly below the edges of the trough-forming member and having its outer edges extending beyond the trough-forming member and at substantially the same elevation as the lower edges of the trough-forming member, the marginal portions of the diffuser acting to diffusely reflect light upwardly outside the troughforming member for upward illumination.

LEROY C. DOANE. 

